Agencies
New York, Nov 17: Japan’s Shinzo Abe Thursday became the first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump, as the US President-elect continues efforts to select candidates for top jobs in his Cabinet. The Japanese Prime Minister met Trump during the evening at the Republican billionaire’s headquarters in mid-town Manhattan in an encounter that was closely watched for hints on long-standing security pacts that he has called into question. Abe tried to grasp the incoming US leader’s real thoughts on foreign policy, following remarks during the campaign that Japan might want to become a nuclear power to counter unpredictable neighbour North Korea, and suggestions he might pull US troops from the region.
The meeting took place after a busy day in which Trump met a stream of potential new hires and held talks with influential Republican realpolitik strategist Henry Kissinger, now 93. In an interview with The Atlantic magazine following the vote, Kissinger said Trump could “establish coherence between our foreign policy and our domestic situation.” There is “obviously a gap between the public’s perception of the role of US foreign policy and the elite’s perception,” said Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State and head of the national security council in the 1970s.
One fresh name floated for a Cabinet post is South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who according to CNN and MSNBC is being considered for Secretary of State and other posts. Until now, US news outlets have suggested that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was tipped for the job of top diplomat. Media reports suggested Trump might have believed that the 72-year-old’s controversial professional ties – which include lobbying for a Venezuelan oil firm – were too much to secure Senate confirmation. Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, originally supported Marco Rubio for President but eventually came around to supporting Trump.
Donald’s courtesy call after victory
Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump and his Vice President-elect Mike Pence have spoken over phone with nearly 30 key world leaders after the historic victory of their Republican party in the recently-held American general elections. Some of the global leaders are Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it said.
Students protest Trump’s deportation plans
Washington: College students at campuses around the United States marched and rallied, urging administrators to protect students and employees against immigration action under a Donald Trump presidency. Rallying supporters on social media with the hashtag #SanctuaryCampus, organizers said actions were planned at more than 80 schools, including Vermont’s Middlebury College, where about 400 people gathered, and Yale University, where demonstrators numbered about 600.
